Saturday, February 22, 2014

Here is a bulletin from the Archbishop in Damascus (English translation of the French original):

Syria:
A fourth Lent spent in war?

(1)
A CHAOTIC SITUATION:

A fourth year Lent spent in war will mean pain
and violence. The Geneva II peace conference1
hasn’t change anything at the moment. New streams of refugees come
to our parishes exceeding our resources. Our social and pastoral
action is primarily focused on support of the affected families. Here
is a highlight of our weaknesses, limits and many challenges:

150
000 families are deprived of their father.

2
million dwellings are destroyed.

2
million families without shelter

12
million refugees

3
million in the neighboring countries,

9
million are displaced in their own country.

2
million students without school.

The
economy is in ruins; our currency has devalued by 300%.

There
is growing violence every day: anguish and bitterness.

An
embargo chokes everyone, especially the children, the poor, the
hospitals and medical sector.

The
list of the suffering is endless

(2)
CAN WE TAKE THIS ROUTE?

The Christians of Syria accounted for 4.5% of the
population before the war. What will it be after the war?47 churches have closed;
two priests and a nun have been martyred.Two bishops, three
priests and 12 nuns were abducted. The Christians of Syria share the
same pain of their fellow citizens. How do we reassure this little
flock inhabited by fear? Could these Christians in this ancient
Biblical land which lit the flame of the Gospel, leave?

This little flock
draws in the faith of St Paul converted and baptized in Damascus, and
on the strength of his testimony. We celebrated the conversion of St
Paul on January 25th at the chapel of Ananias, and June 29th we celebrate Liturgy at the Chapel St. Paul at the wall of the old
city where Paul escaped in a basket (Act 9.25). Will we be more
courageous than St Paul?

(3)
A REGARD FOR HOPE:

Facing despair the Church looks for hope. From
this abyss of suffering she sees bright spots:

(a)
The mutual assistance and solidarity expressed spontaneously by poor
families who open their doorsto
impoverished refugees.

(b)
There are new initiatives for dialogue and reconciliation between
enemies.

(c)
A resurgence of faith strengthens our communities. The Gospel is our
reference and inspiration.The
faithful come to mass, even under the threat of bombs, and devote
much time to the prayer and Eucharistic adoration.

d)
An abundance of priestly vocations are flourishing, despite the
decline in the birth rate.

(e)
Religious, nuns and lay people animate centers of psychological
support for children and young people traumatized by violence.

f)
A new strategy for living, based on the Social teaching of the
Church, is being implemented through ecumenical dialogue involving
all groups in this country at war.

(g)
A family pastoral mission has development that is based on listening
and accompaniment. Without the family there is no Church.

All of these are softened by the gaze of Mary,
Mother of God,OUR
LADY OF PEACE.

Nunblogger

Catholic sister (nun) of the Daughters of St. Paul, an international community founded in 1915 for evangelization in the world of communication. Singer, writer and speaker for Pauline Books & Media (US); just appointed web content editor for an upcoming project of Pauline-UK.